Livin high and takin it easy

An early favorite from Joss Stone’s Colour Me Free album is the track featuring Jamie Hartman entitled, “Stalemate.” I did not know who Jamie Hartman was so I (naturally) googled. So it turns out, he has a band called Ben’s Brother for which he is front man. So it also turns out that Stalemate appears in their own album, “Battling Giants” and it has a special bonus track featuring Anastacia.

Because Joss Stone does not have a video yet for this song, I decided to embed the one with Anastacia on it. Anastacia does a superb job too! I am loving Anastacia in this one.

Stalemate

Did I let you down? No
Did I give you up? No
So what’s it all about now?
Was it not enough?
No, no, no

It’s alright, yeah
It’s okay, yeah
It’s alright with me
I’ll be fine, yeah
I don’t mind, yeah
I’ll pretend at least

But if you give me something, then I’ll believe it
Give me something and I will wait
But if you give me nothing
I can’t help feeling I’m in stalemate with you
Stalemate with you

Used to pick me up, yeah
Like a sunken pill
And I’ve been thinking it through
And we worked so well

But it feels wrong, yeah
When I’m strong alone, yeah
Strong alone by you
And the words you say, yeah
Just to get your way, yeah
Well they just won’t do
You got to…

Give me something, then I’ll believe it
Give me something and I will wait
But if you give me nothing
I can’t help feeling I’m in stalemate with you
Oh I’m in stalemate
Oh I’m in stalemate, baby
(Stalemate with you)

I need more
I need more
What are you waiting for?

It’s so frustrating
(So frustrating, baby)
You got to want it
(Yeah)
I’m so frustrated with your love
What you do to me
Oh, yeah, yeah
Hey
You got me in stalemate
Oooh
Hey, hey, hey
You got me in stalemate
Hey yeah
Oooh, don’t mug me, baby
Don’t mug me, love
You breakin’ my heart now
Don’t you break my heart, no
Don’t you break my heart

***

You can be a fan of the band on Facebook.

***

Their debut album, Beta Male Fairytales, was released on August 6, 2007 and carried the song “Let Me Out” for which they were nominated in 2008 for an Ivor Novello Award in the category of Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

Let Me Out

You sit and you stare and you wait and you wonder
You think “Maybe it’s me and I’m being a fool.”
You start to believe it’s a curse that you’re under
And you’re just a doll for a girl who is cruel
With a pin

(Chorus)
So let me out
Or let me in
And tell me how, we can win
Cause I really wanna know now
Before I begin
To let you go (to let you go)
So let me know

I’d rather be wandering hungry and homeless
Than here in the warmth of a silent defeat
You’ve gotta be honest with me and be ruthless
‘stead of shifting uncomfortably there in your seat
And your skin

(Chorus)

And who’d've thought I’d have the strength to say
“Let me out or let me in”
But as the words are pouring from my mouth
I wanna say them again, and again and again

So let me out
Or let me in
And tell me how, we can win
Cause I really wanna know now
Before I begin
To let you go (to let you go)
Oh
Let me out, or let me in,
Oh no no
And tell me how
We can win
Oh no I really wanna know now
Before I begin
Oh to let you go, to let you go
Let me know

***

To visit Ben’s Brother’s official website, click here.

To read what Wikipedia has on the band, click here.

To visit their MySpace page, click here.

***

While going through their YouTube channel, I found this interesting performance. An acoustic performance of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face at the Gap shop. It’s quite cool actually. I can’t really say I’m a fan of Lady Gaga but there really was a time when Lia’s face brightened up with this real cute smile every time she heard Lady Gaga’s music. Lia loved Let’s Dance too.

Of course after watching this video, I went looking for other acoustic versions of Lady Gaga’s songs and I found her performances at the Marc Jacobs Aftershow Party. It was awesome to watch her sing her dance songs with she herself playing on this white grand piano. Amazing if you think that Britney for all her great performances at her concerts, all the singing and dancing, can never sing and play her own songs.. on a big white grand piano – all by herself. I don’t know. Hahaha. Am I just being carried away?! Hahaha.

I do remember Lia watching Lady Gaga on TV in one of her interviews on CNN. That’s quite something because Lia does not watch TV, but she paused to watch the interview for the entire duration. It’s not like she can understand what was going on. I don’t know with her! Hahaha. Don’t ask me, I have no explanation. I’m just sharing.

This is actually Angku’s favorite photo.

And this is their photographer’s favorite photo from their wedding. This photo has been seen in various publications. It was on the issue of Beautiful Weddings 2007, in black and white. It was also in some newspaper along with an article on the photographer, Edwin Tuyay.

To view more of Edwin Tuyay’s work, click here.

In a nutshell, Ryan and Angku are celebrating their third wedding anniversary today.
(They celebrated their ninth year together last August 27).

This is now Ryan and Angku with their then-three month-old daughter Trellia. Taken July 11, 2009. It was Ryan’s 27th birthday and Lia’s baptism.

They are very much looking the part of Papa and Mama.

The image that made its rounds on the social networks October 23 onwards

I wanted to repost this immediately after I first learned about it through Twitter and read about it on the Gang Badoy Multiply site three days ago. After all, the first sentences did say please help in spreading the word. I decided to hold back because for all I know it might be some hoax like that Jacque Bermejo issue and the last thing I wanted was to take part in the proliferation of something untrue (especially when most times I just want to live high and take it easy hah-hah-hah!).

PrintScreen of Gang Badoy's blog on Ella's Blog

Because Ella’s site was blocked or down, the post made its rounds through a re-post on Jenni Epperson’s Multiply site.

PrintScreen of Jenni Epperson site on Multiply

Today I decided to post about it because Manuel Quezon III also made a post on it, along with some updates.

PrintScreen of Manuel Quezon III's Oct 23 post

And finally, Ella’s site is back up and she had this to say…

Ella's Last Stand on the Issue - October 25, 2009

And I quote the following:

My blog can no longer handle the amount of traffic coming in every hour. I’ve already allowed all comments with no moderation, however, it is still experiencing glitches…

…There is no malicious intent on my part with regards to the management of the technical side of this blog nor is there any government conspiracy going on. No one is trying to block the blog or silence anything. This is simply a matter of capacity overload.

Everyone has seen and heard what I had to say. All I did was ask the right questions that sparked a controversy….

…I am neither the hero nor the villain here. I am just a blogger who wanted to know what’s going on. I did not accuse anyone of hoarding. …

…All that I ask is for people to take their part in this issue: volunteers. DSWD, and myself. Wherever you fall in this category, do your part. I am not the issue. DSWD has a problem deploying relief goods. I know each of us have our own stand regarding this situation. Don’t let this cloud your judgment of anything other than what’s important — getting the right help to the people that need it most.

To read the entire post, click here to go directly to Ella’s site.

As for my take on this issue, I am both saddened and gladdened by this. It was sad to see all those relief goods stored in warehouses instead of being distributed to those who need them. It is understandable that a lot of people were angered. I was myself. That was just unacceptable. A lot of people commented on the possibility of these goods being distributed during the campaign period, with the names of various politicians stamped/taped on it, and knowing how corrupt our politicians are was not really unlikely. I have and will always hate politicians and politics. (But yes, I will make it a point to fly to El Nido to vote. I will not even attempt to comment on Erap’s supposed bid for [yet another] presidential seat).

On the other hand, I am glad that this problem had been “exposed”. Now things are being done to address the problem, or at least I hope so. I am glad that people are now more vigilant of things like these. I only wish the Filipinos in general would not only be vigilant but also smart. (I swear if Erap still gets votes and [God-forbid] wins, damn this country and its citizens to hell).

Sometimes it is good NOT to forget. Learn from the past people and do not make the same mistakes. More importantly, do not keep on making these mistakes again and again and again and again. Kamown!

I just got the entourage cloth for my friend May’s December wedding. Her wedding has a vintage-slash-romantic-slash-Grecian inspired motif and I am sooo excited! Hahaha. That’s something considering I am almost never excited about any wedding. As a matter of fact, I hate weddings. Hahaha. Before I got married, the only wedding I have ever been to was my own. The others, which all came after mine take note, were my sister’s, my brother’s, my cousin Jun’s and most recently, my blockmate from college Marra because I love her so (I lived with her for a month, also known as ampon). That’s just four in all of my twenty-seven years and to think that at my age, I should be going (or should have been at least) to one wedding after the other at this time.

So anyway, I got the cloth and love, love, loved the color which also explains this much excitement. Also, perhaps, just perhaps, it’s only pretty recently that I got into dresses. I remember looking for a dress to wear to Marra’s wedding and I got into this dress-buying frenzy at the store called Stoic in Cubao X. After that I go into all these websites just looking after, and getting very excited, about pretty much every little dress and every little skirt I saw. I feel like a teeny-bopper excited about fashion. *straight face goes here* I was never really into dresses and skirts. I don’t think I even owned one in college. Okay, yeah, I remember having skirts – and they were the ones I found in my mother’s cabinets.. from the 1980s. Yeah, vintage. I love vintage. So there. I am excited about this wedding because it is vintage!!! *overflowing giddiness*

May said this in her wedsite:

For My Secondary Sponsors
Posted by the bride on Wednesday May 13, 2009

My secondary sponsors (Neil’s ate and my friends) will wear cocktail-length pomelo-pink dresses accentuated with bronze gold. The styles of their gowns will be varied. The pic on the left are their respective choices. They all have fabulous tastes by the way!

(This isn’t complete yet. There are still 2 slots that are unoccupied. Calling Virgie and DJ!!! hehe.)

So okay, I don’t have a design in mind yet. Or I had one but I wanna change it! Hahaha. Going through websites again, these are some of the interesting things I found.

Urban Jungle Dress for $99.99 at www.modcloth.com

Blackberry Ice Cream Dress for $84.99 at www.modcloth.com

A Formal Affair Dress for $109.99 at www.modcloth.com

Modcloth is another one of those websites I got to because of Facebook. My, facebook ads do work. I know because I have clicked on one too many of them ads. I suppose I like these Facebook ads. I can’t wait for that time when I will get to make my own Facebook ad. Hahaha.

I love that asymetrical strap on the first dress, along with the huge bow. I love those big roses on the skirt of the second. It reminds me of the shiny red dress with the huge flowers on one shoulder that I wore to Trend Micro’s Christmas Party last year, while I was… *counting one, two, three…* five months pregnant. I love the ruffles and frills on the third. I have always been a fan of ruffles and frills I suppose. I remember wearing those kind of tops in college along with my jeans. Tops that I got from many forays into scattered ukay-ukay shops all over Metro Manila back before everyone else went gaga over anything and everything ukay-ukay. Hmmm.. reminisce, reminisce.

Well, of course those are just inspirations. I have no idea whether the cloth will match the cut. Now I wonder why I did not take up Clothing Tech back in college, or perhaps Design. Oh wait, I know why! Because back then, everyone’s dream was just to become one of any of only the following: doctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer and nurse. And yeah, I should remind myself, I was not into fashion then. Or even little dresses or flirty skirts. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So anyway, I found this interesting site on anything and almost-everything vintage. Click here to visit the shop and here to visit the blog site. I love this blog! *giddy* Seriously, what is up with me?! Am I going to add a category to my site soon called Fashion?!

So today I am off to do something quite exciting, at least to my opinion. I’m going to be gone the entire day, which I think is, only going to be the second longest time I’m going to be away from the baby since she was born. It’s so much easier to leave her in the evening since she only sleeps all night, with only a bottle every three hours while she sleeps. During the day, she is more awake to play, with only an hour or two of naps about two to three times during the entire day. I do not really think Ryan is looking forward to spending the entire day with the baby all by himself. It would I think be the first time he would spend a day like this with her.

Anyhow, though today seems like a bleak and dreary day, there will be no raining on my parade for today. And because of that, I’m going off into the day with Lily Allen’s music in my head. Cheers to that! Lily Allen I love youuuu!

I do not really relate much to the lyrics but who cares? Who says it always has to do something with the lyrics?!

22

When she was 22 the future looked bright
But she’s nearly 30 now and she’s out every night
I see that look in her face, she’s got that look in her eye
She’s thinking how did I get here and wondering why

It’s sad but it’s true how society says her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
‘Til the man of her dreams comes along
Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

She’s got an alright job but it’s not a career
Whenever she thinks about it, it brings her to tears
‘Cause all she wants is a boyfriend, she gets one night stands
She’s thinking how did I get here, I’m doing all that I can

It’s sad but it’s true how society says her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
‘Til the man of her dreams comes along
Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

It’s sad but it’s true how society says her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
‘Til the man of her dreams comes along
Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

Fuck You (Very Much)

Look inside,
Look inside your tiny mind
Now look a bit harder
Cause we’re so uninspired,
so sick and tired of all the
hatred you harbor

So you say
It’s not okay to be gay
Well I think you’re just evil
You’re just some racist who
can’t tie my laces
Your point of view is medieval

Fuck you (Fuck you)
Fuck you very, very much
Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So please don’t stay in touch

Fuck you (Fuck You)
Fuck you very, very much
Cause your words don’t translate
And it’s getting quite late
So please don’t stay in touch

Do you get,
Do you get a little kick out of
being slow minded?
You want to be like your father
It’s approval your after
Well that’s not how you find it

Do you,
Do you really enjoy living a
life that’s so hateful?
Cause there’s a hole where
your soul should be
Your losing control of it and
it’s really distasteful

Fuck you (Fuck You)
Fuck you very, very much
Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So please don’t stay in touch

Fuck you (Fuck You)
Fuck you very, very much
Cause your words don’t
translate and it’s getting
quite late
So please don’t stay in touch

Fuck you, Fuck you, Fuck you,
Fuck you, Fuck you, Fuck you,
Fuck yooooou

You say
You think we need to go to war
well you’re already in one
Cause it’s people like you
who need to get slew
No one wants your opinion

Fuck you (Fuck You)
Fuck you very, very much
Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So please don’t stay in touch

Fuck you (Fuck You)
Fuck you very, very much
Cause your words don’t
translate and it’s getting
quite late
So please don’t stay in touch

Fuck you, Fuck you
Fuck you, Fuck you
Fuck you, Fuck you

***

Today I also pay my friend for the fish I am buying from her. The fish I think is still in L.U. and I am very much looking forward to trying it out very, very soon! Maybe next week in Baler? Maybe, just maybe?

Colour Me Free

Click here to visit Joss Stone’s official website. Watch the videos.. because they are so… so… interesting. Hahaha!

***

“Colour Me Free” Track Listing:
1. “Free Me”
2. “Could Have Been You”
3. “Parallel Lines” (featuring Jeff Beck and Sheila E.)
4. “Lady”
5. “4 and 20″
6. “Big ‘Ol Game” (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
7. “Governmentalist” (featuring Nas)
8. “Incredible”
9. “You Got the Love”
10. “I Believe It to My Soul” (featuring David Sanborn)
11. “Stalemate” (featuring Jamie Hartman)
12. “Girlfriend on Demand”

***

Alright, since I’m a huge Robbie Williams fan and I like “Angels” so much, this video deserves to be embedded here. Oh things like these just make me giddy. Hihihi. Or maybe, my giddiness doesn’t have anything to do with this video. Maybe, giddy is just how I am these days. I’ve no idea why, really…but is that not just great!?

Performed at the February 2005 BRIT Awards where Joss Stone was nominated for British Breakthrough Act; and won British Female Solo Artist and British Urban Act—entering the Guinness World Records as the youngest BRIT Award solo winner at age seventeen.

***

I had her 2004 album, “Mind, Body and Soul“, and listened to it a lot while I was in El Nido in 2005-06. I rather liked “Snakes and Ladders“ a lot then. Mindset, people, mindset! The following music video is of the album’s lead single and Joss Stone’s biggest hit in the U.K. (or maybe everywhere too) to date, “You Had Me”.

To read what Wikipedia has on Joss Stone, click here.

JLC Black at www.shirts.ph

JLC White at www.shirts.ph

JLC Brown at www.shirts.ph

Ilang beses ko ba kasi kailangan ulitin.. HINDI NGA AKO SI JOHN LLOYD, hawig lang po. Ang tshirt na to ay para sa mga tulad namin na feeling at akala mo sinong gwapo at pinagkakaguluhan ng mga babae. OR, baka sakali lang, kamukha mo nga talaga si John Lloyd.

For more information, visit this site.

***

Ibili ko daw si Ryan nitong t-shirt na’to. Sabi ko, oo ba! Ilan ba gusto niya? Isa ng bawat isang kulay?

Sino nga ba sa kanila si John Lloyd?

I don’t think Lily Allen is into making music videos much. Hahaha. Even the one playing on MTV these days doesn’t have her face, pretty as it is, on it. But I love you Lily Allen! Lia and I dance to your music! And you make us uber-happy. Hahaha!

Thank you Neil Quiambao for sharing your music with me. Love “Alright Still” and… I love you Lily Allen!!!!

Forgetting the lyrics to your own song is just so.. Lily Allen and… Amy Winehouse. Hahaha.

Oh, when am I going to Brazil me wonders.

***

This is what Wikipedia has on Lily Allen.

Check out her cool MySpace page.

And I suppose, this is her official website? Question mark on that.

***

Yes darling, It’s Not Me, It’s You!

Lifted. Click on image to go to site.

***

I have to get me that new album….

***

Click here to watch Lily Allen’s music video of Smile. (Embedding disabled by request.)

Wala lang, gusto ko lang nito. Hahaha! Pa-sosyal lang. Kahit di ako marunong mag-Photoshop.

Matutututo kaya akong mag-Photoshop pag nagkaron ako ng ganito?
O mas mag-eenjoy lang ako lalo sa paglalaro ng Facebook games?

Nuninuninuninu…

Click here to learn more about the Wacom Bamboo tablet.

Travel Factor's UBBE+SNUBA Bohol

Travel Factor’s Ultimate Beach Bumming Experience and Snorkeling/Scuba Diving adventure
Dec 5 – 8, 2009
Bohol, Philippines

What is SNUBA?
SNUBA stands for Snorkeling and Scuba Diving. It’s a Travel Factor trip that caters to both divers and non-divers.

Package Rate:
depending on total number of participants
P7,000 per pax (if 5 participants)
P6,000 per pax (if 10 participants)

Package Inclusion:
• roundtrip service from airport to resort (includes van transfers)
• 3 nights aircon accommodation in Panglao Island, Bohol
• free use of resort amenities: swimming pool, etc.
• guided tour with service and entrance fees
• aircon van for the Countryside Tours
• lunch at Loboc on board a floating restaurant w/ serenade
• boat transfers from resort to Dolphin watching area / Balicasag Island
• Travel Insurance
• Travel Factor ID

not included:
• roundtrip airfare and terminal fee
• snorkelling/scuba diving gears and fees
• other meals not part of package

Itinerary Summary:
Dec 5 – arrival in Bohol; check-in at resort; free time (relax, swim, dive)
Dec 6 – Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling at Balicasag Island. option to scuba dive.
Dec 7 – whole day Bohol Countryside Tours
Dec 8 – free time; flight to Manila

* Whole day Countryside Tour including Chocolate Hills, Bilar man-made forest, Tarsier watching in Loboc, Loboc river cruise w/ lunch & serenade, Clarin House, Hinagdanan Cave, Phyton Mini Zoo, Baclayon Church & Museum, Hanging Bridge, Blood Compact Marker, Souvenir Shopping, Bohol Bee Farm

For more information, visit the Travel Factor site.

***

Owraaayttt! Ok, I am still waiting for the poster for this event but as I am overly-igzayded I am already reposting. It seemed like the Cebu Pacific website was down or having server problems, probably from too many people accessing it so thank you so much for Leia Nagal for helping me book the tickets through phone. Thanks much! I am excited to go on a TF trip again. I am excited to be on a TF trip with you again Leia. The last time was Coron back in June 2008 and that was more than a year ago!